Dixon Public Schools

The Dixon School Board accepted a slate of personnel items Wednesday, March 19.

Tools for School provides K-12 students who are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program with a backpack filled with grade-appropriate school supplies to use throughout the year.

This spring, Whiteside, Lee, Ogle and Carroll county voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Dixon’s candidates running for Dixon Township, Dixon School Board and Dixon City Council in the April 1 election spoke about their top priorities during a forum Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Dixon High School.

The school was rewarding their fourth and fifth graders with the hour of fun to celebrate the end of the quarter and as an encouragement to continue to do their best.

Students in Sterling and Dixon engaged in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) activities Thursday, March 6, 2025, at their respective schools.

Dixon High School teacher Charlie Bishop has been named the 2025 Illinois Digital Educators Alliance Educator of the Year at IDEACon, a three-day national event focused on current education topics that draws in presenters, thought leaders and exhibitors from all over the world.

Candidates are on ballot for April 1 consolidated election.

Dixon’s St. Paul and Immanuel Lutheran churches raised a total of $2,430 to help pay off Dixon Public Schools’ student lunch debt through two fundraisers led by the youth ministry, Gerad Von Holten, praise band director at St. Paul, told Shaw Local.

More than 30 fourth through eighth graders from Madison School and Reagan Middle School performed “Peter Pan Jr.” under the direction of Grace Wadsworth, Faith Morrison and Mardi Huffstutler.

For Dixon’s St. Paul and Immanuel Lutheran churches, February is all about “kids helping kids. The youth ministry will hold a spaghetti bake dinner at St. Paul Church, 421 Peoria Ave. in Dixon, from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 21. Half the proceeds will go to Dixon schools' lunch debt.

Buddy Bags of Dixon is hosting a fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Jersey Mike’s Subs, 1677 S. Galena Ave. in Dixon, where 20% of all sales will benefit Dixon Public School students.

First Fridays Open Mic is Feb. 7 in Oregon; Flock to the Rock is Feb. 8 in Rock Falls.

The Dixon School Board approved new hires, resignations and a roster for sports coaches Wednesday night during its regular monthly meeting.

The Dixon School Board has approved a resolution to issue $4.5 million in working cash fund bonds at a 4.8% interest rate in a short-term borrowing plan to finance curriculum, technology and social-emotional services through 2045.

Trivia events, eagle-watching also on schedule of things to do.

The Dixon Rotary Club is doing its part to fight food insecurity in the Sauk Valley area.

Dixon Public Schools were busy in 2024 completing major renovation projects, expanding course offerings and sparking community conversations about student lunch debt.

The Dixon Public Schools Foundation is gearing up for its annual 2024 Stupor Bowl, a competitive community trivia contest supporting local education.

Student lunch debt at Dixon Public Schools, which totals about $9,625, is rapidly being paid off after a donation campaign was launched by the mother of a third-grade Jefferson Elementary student.

A group of former Lincoln Elementary students in Dixon returned to their old school Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, to open a time capsule they created in 1999.

The Dixon School Board approved five new hires, one resignation and one retirement during Wednesday night’s school board meeting.

In less than 24 hours, Jefferson Elementary School’s lunch debt, which stood at $1,168, has been paid off through a donation campaign organized by the mother of a third-grade student.

A Dixon mom of a third grader at Jefferson Elementary is leading a fundraiser with the goal of wiping out student lunch debt at the school.

On Lee County’s ballot for the April 2025 election, four incumbent Dixon school board members will run uncontested to retain their seats, according to the County Clerk’s Office.

In December 2022, the board was presented with a long-term financial plan to improve the district's financial position. The first step, approving $650,000 in taxable general obligation refunding school bonds, was completed in February 2023. The board last week took the next step.

The Dixon School Board approved 15 personnel actions at its Wednesday, Nov. 20, school board meeting.

Performances are at 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

Spearheaded by Sterling FFA Sentinel Kadielynn Nelson and President Grace Wetzell, the group worked with Meals from the Heartland, an organization made up of volunteers who package meals that are then sent to underserved communities.

As students across Illinois are starting to bounce back from pandemic disruptions in 2020, Rock Falls’ elementary and secondary school districts are standing out, with students showing the highest increase in English language arts proficiency.

If the school board decides to use the Illinois Association of School Boards for its search, the process could begin in spring 2025. Using that timeline, the job opening would be posted in July 2025.

Search our table to see what designation your Carroll, Lee, Ogle or Whiteside county school received on the 2024 school report card.

This week, the Illinois State Board of Education released school- and district-level data showing what percentage of Carroll, Lee, Ogle or Whiteside county students were considered proficient in math and reading last year. Check out this chart to see if that's an improvement.

After hearing complaints from teachers, staff members and parents, the Dixon School Board is weighing how to stem 'violent' behavior in Washington Elementary School's kindergarten classrooms.

Dixon Public Schools celebrated the opening Saturday of the newest addition to the district, Thomas J. Dempsey Therapeutic Day School.

As both an introduction to the community and a thank you to Raynor, Dixon High School held an open house/plaque unveil Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, for the school’s newly renovated Career and Technical Education space.

The Dixon School Board approved several personnel actions Wednesday night, including new hires, retirements and volunteer coaches.

No weapons were found on the students or at the school, police say.

School Resource Officer Chris Cox will be retiring after serving 16 years at the Dixon Police Department. His last day at the high school will be Oct. 4. Taking over the position is Officer Matt Coffey, who will begin Monday, Sept. 30.

The hope is to get more teachers to attend training sessions, which have seen a steady participation decline over the past few summers.

Sewer work being done on Fargo Avenue was the source of the smell, city officials said.

Several Dixon Police Department marked squad vehicles and officers will be at Madison Elementary, Reagan Middle School and Dixon High School in response to potentially threatening Snapchat messages that surfaced last week, according to a police department Facebook post.

Both districts’ growing attention to ag offerings has been spurred by two things, teachers say: the hands-on nature of ag programs and the lessons students can directly apply to their own lives.

In celebration of the 100-year mark since President Ronald Reagan began his freshman year at Dixon High School, the school hopes to show its students that “every one of them has the potential to achieve their goals and dreams."

School board OKs new hires, resignations and coach roster.

Join UPM Raflactac, Al Morrison Baseball and Dixon-area businesses for a charity softball tournament benefitting Al Morrison Baseball and the Dixon Public Schools’ extracurricular activities fund.

Embracing the power of self-reflection, and the importance of personal insight, author Gary Shelton, a Dixon native, wants to bring readers on a journey of personal discovery.

Reagan Middle School teachers Eric Ferguson and John Taylor have collaborated on another recently published book.

Parents also are reminded that some children may need the proper vaccinations and physicals.

Dixon Public Schools is adding the final touches to its newest addition to the district, the Thomas J. Dempsey Therapeutic Day School, in anticipation for the first day of school on Aug. 14, Superintendent Margo Empen says.